Ireland demand to play the match again

The match is over and Ireland is out of the World Cup, but apparently, this has just begun. The Football Association of Ireland sent an official statement to FIFA on Thursday demanding to replay the playoff against France.

As we know, France qualified for the World Cup after their 1-1 tie with the Irish team yesterday, but the French goal was scored thanks to a previous hand by Thierry Henry. The referee declared the goal as valid, unleashing the fury of millions of Irish fans.

We can understand the feelings of the Irish board in their statement: “The blatantly incorrect decision by the referee to award the goal has damaged the integrity of the sport and we now call on FIFA, as the world governing body for our sport, to organise for this game to be replayed.”

Irish Federetion head John Delaney also said that he had also written to the French Association regarding the controversial match and was not calling for a replay simply out of principle.

“For me, it's totally unfair so we have to do it. It is up to the people who govern football now, if they really believe in the principals of fair play then step forward,” Delaney said. Everytime I go to congress it is all about fair play and fair play ambassadors… but well done is better than well said. They’re words, I’d like to see actions” Delaney expressed.

Irish players also said what they think about it. Robbie Keane blasted against Platini and Blatter: "They're all probably clapping hands, Platini sitting up there on the phone to Sepp Blatter, probably texting each other, delighted with the result."

France reach the World Cup 2010 thanks to Henry's hand

France got their ticket to South Africa 2010 thanks to a extremely polemic goal scored by William Gallas. The blues tied 1-1 with Ireland at the Stade de France and won the play offs thanks to their previous victory in Dublin.

The controversial goal came in the minute 103, when forward Thierry Henry controlled the ball with his left hand before passing it to Gallas in front of goal. Unfortunately for Ireland, Swedish referee Martin Hansson and his assistant didn't see the hand.

Previously, Robbie Keane shocked the whole crowd at the minute 32' with a superb goal. But the Irish dreams where just about to be destroyed.

The best thing for the World Cup is that we will be able to watch super stars like Thierry Henry, Frank Ribery and Benzema in South Africa. But the rough reactions for this hand will last long.

Fench coach Raymond Domenech expressed the feeling of millions of french fans: "It was difficult, arduous and at some points, miraculous. It was a win by the skin of our teeth."

European press: Thierry Henry will be transfered

Henry headed home Barcelona's opener in a straightforward 2-0 win over Mallorca in the first leg of the King's Cup semi-finals. It keeps the Spanish side on course for a La Liga, King's Cup and Champions League treble, a feat never before achieved in Spain.

In fact, frenchman Henry has played a pivotal role in Barcelona's fortunes this season, as he shows the form which earned him legendary status at Arsenal.

That has not prevented interested Premier League clubs from trying to tempt the France international back to England, though, with reports suggesting Barca would be willing to listen to offers for their in-form striker.

According to the Sun, Barcelona are ready to sell Henry to an English club for £12 million so they can free up some finances to launch a £25m raid for Bayern Munich's left-sided midfielder Franck Ribery.

Manchester City are likely to lead the chase for the 31-year-old. City were linked with a January transfer window move for France's all-time top goal scorer although they never made an official bid.

It’s important to notice that City will be back in the market for a striker once the window reopens. Mark Hughes has limited options in attack but chose to loan Brazilian striker Jo to Everton until the end of the season following a lean spell at Eastlands.

Should Jo impress at Goodison, City may be prepared to cut their losses and recoup some of the £18m they paid out to bring the former CSKA Moscow striker to the Premier League.

Henry, meanwhile, has always insisted that he would not return to play for another English club. While a second spell at Arsenal has often been mooted, Henry remains keen to see out his playing days in America.

Henry showed a good performance in Barcelona victory over Mallorca

Barcelona comfortably saw off Real Mallorca tonight in the Copa Del Rey semi-final first leg, in a win that proved to be far more comfortable than the final score suggests.

As we know, Bojan linked superbly with Thierry Henry to allow the Frenchman to open the scoring, and defender Rafael Marquez doubled their advantage with a stunning second half free-kick to put the Catalan side on the brink of the final.

Unsurprisingly, Mallorca chose to adopt a defensive set-up, playing 4-5-1 with striker Webo given the task of foraging up front against the mean back four of Barcelona. Given their relegation plight and the fact that there is another leg to come, Mallorca could be forgiven for sitting back and allowing the champions elect to break them down.

And with Lionel Messi consigned to the bench for the second encounter in succession, Bojan was given the opportunity to continue his development for the Blaugrana and he was desperate to impress coach Pep Guardiola.

In the eighth minute, he commenced a mazy run that showed all the characteristics of the diminutive Argentine whose place he had taken in the squad. He skipped inside and out, leaving two defenders for dead before drilling a low shot that Lux did well to clear with his feet. Then he spun in the area once more, and warmed the fingers of the away goalkeeper with another low shot. He looked in the mood tonight.

However it should have been Iniesta that opened the scoring on the half hour. Thierry Henry flicked a nonchalant back heel into the path of the Spaniard and as Lux approached he attempted to stab the ball past him rather than dance around his advances, and the ball trickled harmlessly wide of the post.

But the Blaugrana were not to be denied, and the opening goal was all down to the decision making of Bojan, who continues to progress at this level. He used the overlapping run of Dani Alves as a decoy and swung an inviting cross onto the head of former Arsenal man Thierry Henry, who gratefully accepted the chance to nod the ball into the net for this thirteenth strike of the season. It was a goal that was always arriving given the amount of pressure that Mallorca were under.

Given the players that Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano chose to omit from his squad this evening, it appeared that there was a sense of acceptance surrounding the Islanders’ play that Barcelona would triumph tonight. They showed little in either half that suggested that they were willing to mount any kind of counter to Henry’s opener, and instead Barcelona’s second string continued to attack in droves.

The inevitable entrance of Messi as a substitute lifted the atmosphere that was in danger of becoming a little subdued at the Camp Nou, and within minutes of his introduction he almost managed a picture book goal.

He and Iniesta showed telepathic interplay before the Argentine fired a powerful shot that the busy Lux beat around the post. Five minutes later, Messi once more struck a low drive which once again the goalkeeper cleared with his legs.

Bojan did not sparkle in the second half and struggled to make the impact that he had managed in the first, and his sloppy play was representative of Barcleona’s rather lackadaisical attitude to the encounter.

But Marquez lit up the encounter with a sublime finish on 75 minutes that almost certainly put the home side out of reach in the tie. Busquets was brought down on the edge of the area, and the Mexican curled a perfect, accurate free-kick into Lux’s top right hand corner to give them a two goal cushion to take to Mallorca for the second leg.

Once again, it was not vintage, but a thoroughly professional display from a side who can still dream of the treble. Real Mallorca, on the other hand, can now focus all of their efforts onto escaping the bottom three in the Primera Division and preserving their top flight status.

Goals:

Barcelona:
Henry (35'), Marquez (74')

Teams:

Barcelona: Pinto, Dani Alves, Rafa Marquez, Pique, Abidal, Toure, Iniesta, Gudjohnsen (Buquets 55'), Hleb, Henry (Messi 58'), Bojan (Eto'o 86')

Mallorca: Lux, Josemi, Ramis, Nunes, Ayoze, Corrales, Cleber Santana, Scaloni, Castro, Trejo, Webo (Jurado 69')

Ferfgie wants Henry on his side

English powerhouse Manchester United have reportedly made an approach to sign the powerful striker Thierry Henry from FC Barcelona.

Indeed, the former Gunner has struggled to settle at the Nou Camp and is believed to be far from convinced that new boss Josep Guardiola has the team to challenge for top honours.

According to the reports, Sir Alex Ferguson has identified him as a alternative option if United miss out on top target Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester United's chase of Berbatov has hit a brick wall since Spurs complained to the FA about them, so the french star could have moved up their list of priorities.

Having been one of the best footballers in the Premier League over the last decade during his time at Arsenal, Henry would relish a return to England.

Alex Ferguson's recent comments that Wayne Rooney will be playing in a more central role this season could be a sign that he plans to use him supporting a striker like Thierry Henry or Berbatov up front. Time will tell.

The nasty divorce of Thierry Henry and Claire Merry

French superstriker Thierry Henry, is preparing himself to fight a nasty divorce battle since telling his ex-wife Claire Merry not to expect cash from him.

Indeed, Merry, Henry's ex-wife, was a former model. She has asked for $20 million in her divorce. Thierry Henry has warned her to expect a tough battle in court.

As we know, Claire Merry, 27, was granted a divorce from Thierry Henry, 30, in September 2007. She discovered raunchy phone text messages in his phone. She also learnt that the popular footballer dated Sadie Hewlett, a makeup artist.

We must consider that Merry and Henry were married for 4 years and have a daughter, Tea Henry. Merry has said that she would take Henry to the cleaners, to get as much money as possible.

Henry visits New York as rumours place him in the MLS

Now that the Euro 2008 is over, French superstar Thierry Henry is all about taking some time off. And what better place to chill out than New York City?

The Barcelona striker stud was spotted tooling around Manhattan’s Greenwich Village yesterday sporting a white t-shirt with a red tie silkscreened on it, along with a pair of distressed jeans and some retro-red high tops.

Henry then headed over to the SoHo district where he shopped at Union, picking up a red baseball cap before having lunch at Da Silvano restaurant with some friends.

During a recent charity game, Thierry revealed that he’d like to relocate to America and play MLS someday. “Why not? I so love America. I love it here. And whenever I come here, I feel free. Hopefully, one day. You never know what’s going to happen the next day. But at the moment, I’m still over there."

Henry Photo Gallery

Thierry was named the best player of the EPL.


Against Italy in the World Cup Final.


Showing his new jersey at Barcelona.


Idol and legend of Arsenal FC.


Hnery is commited with his new club.


Thierry is nowadays the most important player of France.